Art & Design Education at the Crossroads

Abstract

This paper provides a background to proposed changes in English art and design education and the perceived threats resulting from ‘reforms’ underway following the election of the coalition government in May 2010. Art and design education appears to be precariously poised on a cliff edge as a consequence of very questionable initiatives driven by the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove. These include the proposed introduction of the academic ‘English Baccalaureate’ performance standard; a root and branch review of the National Curriculum likely to lead to slimmed down statutory requirements that marginalise the arts; far-reaching changes to initial teacher education with training for art and design teachers reduced by 40 percent; and student fee increases. Further concerns may include the outcome of a DCMS review of ‘Cultural Education’, and the consequences of the decision by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to sever all funding for teaching the arts and humanities in universities and specialist higher education institutions. A postscript covering 2013 concludes the paper.